The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-02
THE LAST DAYS PAYMENTS
About 0ne~Fifth of the Consumers Gas
Trusts First Assessment Is Yet Due.
The Customers Contract Meets with Some
Criticism-An Early Test of the Indian
apols Company's Pipes to Be Made.

The directors of the Consumers Trust say
that they satisfied with the promptness of
subscribers in paying their assessments of 20
per cent ''Ws have no fears," said Judge
Lamb. yesterday, that the full amount will not
be in hand. On Wednesday 600 subscribers
paid in. making the aggregate 500, 600. To-day
there has been constant stream, and by to-
morrow morning not more than $40, 900 will re-
main unpaid. This collection has been made
simply on the announcement through the news
papers, ten days ago, that the amount was due
on Dec. l. Some thought the ten days within
which the money could be paid was subsequent
to rather than prior to the date named, but that
is being corrected will by Saturday have,
l think, all the money the 20 per cent. called
Cor. This has been accomplished without send
ing out collectors individual notice."
'Have you met with any criticism in regard
to your form of contractr the Judge was asked
by reporter.
Eve making these contracts with consum-
simply matter of business Every other
company has the right to do the same thing.
We have wish to antagonize other corpora
tons, and if they supply gas sooner than
can it is all right No doubt many prefer to wait
and take gas from the first company that is able
to furnish it. but in the plan have adopted
hope to strengthen ourselves without inter
ferne encroaching upon the privileges of 9TH
ers."
AS to this feature. E. F. Claypool expressed
the same views, with the additional statement
that some had objected three years duration
of the contract favoring monopoly Tho
trust he said, lis monopoly in It
is monopoly of the people. As to canvassing
for consumers contracts there may be differ
ence OF opinion, but for my part | can see no
objection to the plan. It certainly do no
harm, and may be of material advantage US.
There is nothing philanthropic about the enter
prise II is to be managed like other cor
poration, and 1t ia not worth while to talk of
there being n loss shrinkaee in the ASSESS
ments. If we we're to fall 800, 900 behind in the
end the money can be had readily TO make
the deficiency"
What is there in the statement that Mr.
Maus has declined TO pay his assessment"
Nothing His subscription of 81 900 was
conditional and he has not been called upon to
pay It. In taking an account of the subscrip-
tons it was not considered" In reference
this matter John Frenzel Gays: ''Ten DAYS be-
fore the Pogue deal occurred, Mr.. Fahnley and
myself asked Mans to subscribe to the trust He
said he could Dot, he had money invested in
the Broad Ripple company | told him that
made difference and he finally agreed 10 sub
scribe 81 900 condition that if the trnst bought
the Broad Ripple wells and plant this amount
should be credited against his share of the pur-
chase price. We accepted that proposition, aud
in his su Inscription the conditions that effect
were Endorsed" Secretary Potts says the trust
COMPANY does not consider that il has any claim
against Mr. Maus. IF it did," he remarked, 'is
would be held good in court"
1t Is claimed by friends of the trust and others
that, no matter how the companys officers may
seek to explain the force of the contract with
consumers. it commits the subscriber to wait for
his supply of gas until the trust is ready to fur
nsh it. 81 took several shares in the trust"
said a gentleman last night, but l am not
bound by that to wait until its fields are devel-
oped, its pipes are laid and connection made be-
fore / take gas The first company that is
ready to supply it will secure my custom. Nor
do like the idea of committing myself to favor
one company more than another for certain
period of years. l want to be free to do I |
please in regard to this matter" This was the !
drift of comment Yesterday, relative to the con-
tract, which many are pleased to term mis-
take But it is Secretary Potts's idea that if it
is ready some months before the trust to supply
consumers, those " no have signed the contract
can take their gas from the Indianapolis compa-
ny until Sept. l. After that date they would be
expected to abide by their agreement with the |
trust company.
The ten days for the payment of the first as
sessment on trust stock expired yesterday, with,
according to the statements at the treasurer's |
Office $50 900 collected. Payments" said |
j Judge Lamb. ''have been made by large and
small stock holders. The amount on hand is not |
altogether from the latter class. although they |
estimated by those having charge of the collec
tions that the $4,000 represents 5000 stock |
holders leaving 700 yet to pay, average of
Sll. 80 each. The number OF the last receipt is
sued during a days collections does not show, it
is said, the total number of assessments paid, |
as the numbers on the receipts
On the first day the stockholders
got the ordinary receipts without number and
on the days following those prepared especially |
for the company were taken just as they came |
from the printer without beginning at No aud
following thereon in regular order. 'Amopg |
the subscribers who have not paid" said New
ton Caypool, ARE railroad men who will not
ceive their money until later in the month.
Grace evil be given these subscribers,
a: these are regarded as perfectly good;
on their account there are men of means who
would guarantee the payment of this cl ass of /
s subscriptions Besides this. several people have
offered to take stock of those who may drop out.
Residents of Irvineton, too, have proposed to |
So bscribe $4,000 if pipe line from the Green
field territory is brought within their reach. | |
90 not think that will be S., 900 short in the
first assessment"
The line of the Indianapolis company is in |
the neighborhood of Malott Park and will be |
to that point by Saturday evening, |
making distance ot fourteen miles. On that |
day q test is to be made by turning into the |
pipes for that distance the gas from three of the
largest wells under three hundred pounds pres |
sure. Every joint of pipe from the wells to the |
southern terminus will be inspected, and if a |
leak occurs anywhere the cauking in that par
the line is found TO be perfect the |
filling in of the trench will be done. The COM
pany thinks the test will prove satisfactory in |
every respect, and particularly in establishing |
beyond all question the success of piping gas |
twenty-one miles under a pressure half that
used in the Pittssurg lines. With this fact set
tied the company will no longer hesitate about /
accepting the ordinance The amend |
nents to the ordinance it will ask |
then are simply those upon which
all those concerned can agree within
fifteen DAYS." said one of the companys direct
ors, ''the pipe line with gas in it, will be the
,ity limits 1t will then be a matter for the peo-
pie determine whether not they will have
gas this winter. / may say positively, basng il
IN the confidence have in the test to be made
that the ordinance rates will be accepted"
Gas for Columbus.
,pecia1 to the Indianapolis journal
COLUMBUS, Dec. This city has fair pros